Drafting and spinning mechanism



Dec. 3, 1940. E. H. RooNEY N 2,223,875`

DRAFTING AND SPINNING NEcHANIsM Filed oci. 19, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet lDec. 3, 1940.

E. H.. ROONEY DRAFTING AND SPINNING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 19,A 1957 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Izweazba- Dec. 3, 1940.

E. H. RooN EY 2,223,875

DRAFTING AND SPINNING MECHANISM Filed oct. 19', 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 5Patented Dec. 3, 1 940 yParr-:NT OFFICE 2,223,875 Damme am) SPINNINGMECHANISM Elwin n. muy, mamma., n. I.

Application october 19, 1931, serial No. 169,810

somme.

My present invention relates to the drafting and spinning of textilefibers and more particularly aims to provide improved methods andapparatus for drafting and spinning cotton, where-` by a given count ofyarn, of a superior quality, may be produced with the employment of aless number of separate operations and machines.

In the .drawings illustrating by way ot example certain embodiments ofthe invention,

Fig. 1 is a cross section of one form o'f apparatus in accordance withthe invention and for practising the method thereof, the machine thereshown being referred to herein as a high-draft spinning frame orcombined rovingand spinningA frame;

Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating the path of the roving from the creelto a spindle;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section corresponding to a lower lefthand portionof Fig. 1, illustrating the roll mechanism at one side of the machine:`

Fig. 3A is a top view of a guide and the drafted t brous ribbon betweenthe inner and outer sets Fig. 4 is an approximately horizontal sectionshowing one form of gearing for the set of drafting rolls seen at theright in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an end view of another apparatus embodying the invention,wherein a high draft spinning frame such as that of Fig. 1 operates withsliver supplied from cans; and

Fig.. 6 is a diagram illustrating the path of the sliver from the cansto a spindle in the machine' of Fig. 5.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive I have there shown apparatusfor the practice of my method in accordance with which roving such asordinarily prepared on slubblng frames, and which ordinarily is thenfurther drafted in roving or ne frames or in intermediate frames, or inboth intermediate and roving frames, is drafted and spun onto thespindles in a single operation carried out in the one organizedmechanism. In

other words, in the practice of my invention I:

supply to the frame on which the spinning'is done roving of a4coarseness such as usually produced on a slubber, or even a sliver froma drawi ing frame, and obtain for example 's yarn'in a single operationfrom 1.5 hank roving, 20's yarn from 1.0 hank roving, or from a sliver,or any other desired yarn count, starting .from the roving at thecorresponding slubber stage of the ordinary practice, or in some casestaking sliver direct from the drawing frame,- thus dispensing entirelywith intermediate and roving frames,

and, in the cases last referred to, eliminating even the slubbing frame.

The apparatus as illustrated in Fig. 1 has a v similar generalarrangement as the usual doublesided ring spinning frame. The main frameat 5 one end of the machine is indicated at i. Rows of spindles 2 extendalong 'the opposite sides of the machine, these being driven in theknown manner as by a cylinder and spindle bands or tapes 3. The spindlesreceive yarn Y fed from an 10 outer set oi' drafting rolls on a stand 4supported on a rail 5 in a generally similar manner as in the usualspinning frame. This outer set of rolls comprises driven front, middleand back lower rolls 6, 1 and 8 and corresponding upper rolls 6', l5 1'andi' paired with the respective lower rolls. These outer rolls, whichmay be of any preferred construction. are coordinated with otherdrafting means, to be described, in such manner that they effect but arelatively low draft, for ex- 2o ample,4 drafts in the range of about 5or 6 to about 10 or 12, as contrasted with the relatively higher draftsnow generally used in spinning frames, at the expense of yarn quality.in order to satisfy present day requirements of speed and 25 volume.

Inwardly or in back of this outer drafting roll set, in position todeliver drafted roving tov the latter, I provide an initial orinner setof drafting rolls comprising in the illustrated example 3o three pairsof upper and lower rolls. These include front, middle and back pairs,the lower or driven rolls being numbered I0, Ii and I2 respectively inthe drawings and the corresponding upper rolls I0', Il' and I2'.

As an important feature of the invention, one of these upper rollsbehind the front one,`the upper back roll as illustrated, is of themultiple-point construction disclosed and claimed in the United Statespatents to T. P. Rooney No. 1,933,222 and 40 2,023,032, datedOctober 31,1933, and December 3, 1935, respectively. By reason of the high degreeof fiber parallelizing obtainable with said pointed rolls they arepeculiarly suited to the purposes oi' my present invention and cooperate45 ina special manner in the novel combination disclosed. Rotary brushclearer means I3, not necessary to describe here in further detail, maybe provided in association with the pointed rolls, as disclosed andclaimed in a copending application 50 of NelsonA. Batcheldcr.

-Said inner or initial set of drafting rolls are rotatably supported bya` stand il on a. platform II, the front rolls of the inner set standingadjacent the back rolls oi the outer set. The drafted roving isconducted fromone roll set to the other by a supporting guide i6, seeFig. 3, having a forwardly tapering guide channel il adapted to deliverto the biaht of the back rolls of the outer set a collected plurality ofdrafted rovings coming from the inner set, thus giving a doubling actiontobe referred to. Said guide is supported in operative position betweenthe two roll sets as by a bracket i3 on one of the roll stands.

The inner set of drafting rolls it, il and i2 is operatively arranged toaiiord a relatively high draft, in the range o say l5 to 2i) draft inthe instance of producing ils yarns from 1.5 hanl: roving. They aredriven in timed coordination with the front set to produce the totaldesired draft. And in view oi the high drafts accomplished by the innerroll set they may be operated at extraordinarily low speeds as comparedWith current standard practice on intermediate and roving or nne frames.

One convenient drive is that illustrated, wherein the inner set isactuated directly from the outer set, thereby insuring the positivecoordination of the two. Referring particularly to Fig. 3, the outerroll sets at the two sides of the machine may be operated by gearingsuch as is usual in spinning frames, including the large intermediategears 2li, (Fig. 1) one for eachside. Said gears are driven by the twistgeari engaged with the jack gear 22, the latter meshing with a gear 23on the main drive shaft 2G.

Referring again to'Fig. 3, representing the rolls at the left side ofthe frame as viewed in Fig. i, (those at the other side being similarand similarly driven) the corresponding large gear 2t drives the irontroll twist gear on 'the shaft of the lower front roll t. The front roildraft gear Si on the same shaft serves to drive the crown gear 32 on ashaft with the change gear which in turn meshes with the iarge nach rollgear @d on the shaft oi the lower hack roll t. The lower middle roll iis driven by means of a gear on the shaft oi the lower bach roll meshingwith the broad middle-roll intermediate gear d, the latter in turndrivingly engaging the middle roll gear di. The described gearinggenerally is at one end of the frame, herein the head end, and that for`the inner roll sets, now to he described, is at the other end.

The inner sets of rolls are driven from the outer sets by suitablegearing, herein located at the foot end of the frame. The shaft o thelower back roll 8 of each outer set accordingly is provided with aconnecting gear it which meshes with an intermediate drive gear di. Thegenerai arrangement and manner of moiuitins ofthe gearing for said innerroll sets will he apparent from a consideration of Figs. 3 and 4. Inthis connection it will be understood that the various gears aside vfromthose on the roll shafts themselves are supported onstud shafts carriedby the end frame i or by A,loraclrets on the latter or on the platformi5, one such main bracket being indicated at ia in Fig. 4. Shaftbearings are seen in section adjacent the gears.

In each of the inner roll sets, the intermediate drive gear M abovementioned directly engages the front roll gear $2 iixed on the shaft ot.the

- lower iront roll IG, thereby driving the latter.

The middle roll il is operated by a gear 63 on the shaft of the frontroll le meshing .with a change gear M. On the same shaft with the latteris smaller gear 45 having driving engagement with a gear 46 on the shaftof said middle roll il. The drive'for the back roll i2, with` which themultiaaaaeve ple-pointed upper roll i2' cooperates, is by means of afurther gear d8 on the shaft of the front roll it having drivingengagement with a crown gear t9 ,on the same shaft with a change gear5t.

The latter in turn meshes with the relatively large back roll gear 5i,on the shaft of said back roll it. The number ci teethand .the pitch ofvarious gears is such as to give the desired draft by this inner set ofrolls, such as draits in the rangeof l5 to 20 in the example previouslymentioned, wherein ils yarns are to he produced from a '1.5 henk roving.

This inner roll set, having the muitipie-pointed roll i2 in combinationtherein, serves to reduce or transform the supplied roving to aiiattened ribbondihe formation having an appearance as representedsomewhat diagrammatically in Fig. 3A. By the action oi said 'pointedroll in combination with the others the individual fibers or smallgroups of them are in eect combed into alignment and evenly distributedcompactly into a band or ribbon wherein any previous twist has beensubstantially completely removed. The resulting absence @f twist andhigh degree of iiber parallelization in this ribbon maires it possibleto accomplish at the saine time a high draft, without sacrifice ofduality. Drafts in the range of 15 to 2&3 are readily obtained, and mayhe carried as high as so it so desired. This high draft in turn mairesit possible substantially to reduce the roll speeds, a procedurediametrically opposite to all modern tendencies, and yet to obtainadequate production volume of yarn.- of

equal or improved duality.

For exampie, in the previously mentioned case oi tcs yarn, the irontroli i@ of the inner set may have a speed of hut a'ieout 25 R. P. hi'.This contrasts witl'i common present day speeds at the iront roii o arovina' or inch frame, :or a roving oi similar nani-:2, or about iii@ toil@ R. P. M. in a like case the speed or the haci: roil i2 paired withthe pointed roll id may-he out about 5 R. P 'ri/.

In the combinationv of the inner roll set in a spinning frame inaccordance with my invention the further important result isaccomplished of reducing the draft required of the outer set. for theproduction ci any given count oi yarn. Due to the high drafts obtainablerom the inner set, the draft at the outer set may he correspondinglyreduced. For example, in the case oi 60s yarn previously cited, l' mayemploy a i6 draft at the inner set and but i@ draft at the outer setwhich feeds directly to the spindles. Similarly, 1f i use a 20 draft etthe inner set, which is well within their capacity, then in accordancewith the inventionV the draft at-the outer roll set is reduced to 8. Thedraft reduction at this point further maires for improved yarn quality.

From the foregoing it will he understood that I have provided upon theone frame and inespecialiy coordinated relation a rst or' inner set ofrolls including at least one multiple-pointed or Rooney roll producing,permissibly at low f speeds, a relatively high draft and a rlbbonlngeffect with high degree of fiber parallelization, in combination with asecond set of rollsv feeding to the spindles and at which the 'draftmay` bedistinctly lower than is customary under present' day practicefor spinning frames. The resulting yarn, despite the fact that myinvention dispenses with intermediate and roving frames and theoperations thereof, is in all respects equal or superior to thecorresponding present day product of a ring spinning frame and incorresponding volume. As indicated, important contributing factors ,inthis result are the ribboning, fiber-paralleling and straighteningeffect of the inner roll set, the slow speed of the latter, particularlyat their back rolls, and the short draft at the outer rolls. Theconstruction and arrangement illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 is adapted forthe production1 In further combination with the described roll draftingarrangement I provide for doubling of the roving, in association withnovel means affording an adequate supply of roving. The number andarrangement of the rovings, as to doubling, is indicateddiagrammatically in Fig. 2, representing the inner and outer sets ofrolls and the path of travel of the roving through them. Four separaterovings R are supplied to the inner roll set from a creel of novel formfor a spinning frame, to be referred to.

As indicated in said Fig. 2' these four rovings are conducted to theinner roll set in pairs, those of each pair entering the back rolls l2,vI2 in position closely adjacent each other, for doubling into a singleelement in their travel through the inner roll set. For this purpose therovings oi each of the two pairs are entered to the back rolls l2, l2through suitable condensing guides I2C, Fig. 3, one for each rovingpair.

From the inner roll set the rovings thus doubled are conducted as bymeans of the connecting guide i6 across to the back rolls 8, 8 of theouter set. The two doubled rovings coming from the inner set are causedby the guide I6 to approach each other closely, so as to run into saidback rolls of the outer set in side by side relation, for furtherdoubling in the course of the travel through the front r'oll set. Inthis manner one yarn of the desired count for each of the spindles 2emergesfrom the front rolls 6. 8.

To accommodate the necessary roving supply I have herein illustrated innovel combination with my high-draft spinning frame a multipledeckcreel, supporting the spools or bobbins 60 in the illustrated example atfour different levels above the frame. The several decks may besupported one above the other as by vertical rods 6i extending upwardlyfrom the platform IE or other nxed part of the machine frame. `For eachl deck of spools or bobbins I provide a guide, illustrated as ahorizontal guidebar 82. The rovings from the supplies at the oppositesides of these centrally disposed guides areconducted over Ithe latterin opposite directions and downwardly to a lower guide 63 aroundwhich'they pass outwardly to the guides I 2G adjacent the back rolls l2,I2 of the inner sets. It will be understood that half of the rovingslead outwardly to one side of the machine and the other half to theopposite side.

The four rovings to be supplied to any one set of rolls along lthemachine may be taken from any convenient four spools or bobbins' in theadjacent portion of the creel above that particular roll set. Onearrangement which I have found convenient and which makes it easy fortheoperator to follow-and attend to the rovingsupply isV that indicatedin Fig.v 1. vIn this case the four rovings for the particular roll setare taken one from each deck of the creel and from bobbin's or spoolsstanding in substantially the same vertical plane. it being understoodIthat the various supply packages, whether in the. ilorm of bobbins,spools or otherwise, may be disposed in staggered relation, both as tosupplies at any one level and as between the suceding levels or decks.The package supplies, which in the case of the production of 50s yarnsfor example would consist of 1.5 hank roving, may be larger thanheretofore used in a spinning frame, 10- inch bobbins, for example,being employed instead of 6 or 8 inch. Thus the supply is adequate formany hours, frequently for from two to three mill weeks withoutreplenishment or attention by the operative.

It ywill thus be seen that in accordance with V my drafting and spinningmethod and apparatus various intermediate steps or processes areeliminated, with4 corresponding reduction in equipment and operatingcosts. All this is accomplished without sacrifice in the quality of theyarn but to the contrary with a resulting im' proved product morecomparable to .the yhighgrade yarns oi' half a century ago, beforequality. began to be sacrificed for speed and volume. At the same timethe volume of production per Working period is but little if any reducedfrom that considered necessary under present day coneinem.

Assume again a speciiic case, say the production of a 60's yarn asypreviously used 'as an example. In accordance with my method and with myapparatus as disclosed and described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4, Im'ay start at my spinning frame with a 1.5 hankroving, for instance,

l said roving being the product oi a slubbing frame. This roving isdoubled and drafted 16 through the medium of the inner roll set, giving12 hank. It is then .doubled and drafted 10,

in the operation of the iront roll set, giving 60 hank, that is, 60syarn. Or I may employ drafts lof 20 and 8 at said two stations of myspinning frame, or other draftv settings proportioned to afford thedesired count starting with a given roving product ofa slubber.

AIn contrast with the process last described the general procedure withregular or standard equipment has -been substantially as follows;Starting at a-corresponding Ipoint in the yarn production, A

namely with the product of a slubbing frame, such usual method wouldtake say 1.11 hank roving which is doubled and drafted 6 in anintermediate frame, giving 3.33 hank. This latter is taken from theintermediate frame `and installed in a fine or roving frame, where it isdoubled and drafted 6, giving 10 henk. The latter-in turn is taken fromthe iine frame and installed in a spinning-frame where after doubling itis drafted 12, giving 60syarn.

In accordance with another practice, under what is known as theCasablancas high-draft method, the procedure for the production of 60syarns would be the following. Starting with the product of a slubbingframe, roving of say 2.0 henk is doubled and drafted 6, this draft beingperformed in a fine or roving frame, giving 6V hank. From this iineframe the 6 henk material is installed in a spinning frame and ondoubling is givena 20 draft, resulting in 60s yarns.

Thus itwlll be seen that in accordance with my present method and theapparatus of 'my invention I perform in asingle process and by the useot a single organized apparatus a result which requires three distinctoperations. in three separate machines, under the regular procedure andwhich under the Casablancas method requires at least two separate anddistinct opera.-

tions, in two different machines. Moreover, my resulting product is ofsuperior quality.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6 I-have there illustrated another form ofapparatus in aecordance with the principles of my invention, moreparticularly adapted for the production of the coarser counts of yarns,say up to and including 20's. In this instance the inventioncontemplates going directly from a drawing frame, taking the sliverproducts of the latter, and in one operation producing therefrom spunyarn Y.

Referring to lsaid Fig. 5 I have there indicated at I a high-draftspinning frame which in all respects not otherwise mentioned may be thesame as that above fully described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4. Thesliver S as generally produced on a drawing frame is coiled in cans 18.In the interests of compactness and with a view to conserving floorspace and to enable the installation of a greater number of units in agiven area, the cans 18 in accordance with the invention are disposed ata level above the spinning frame I, as upon a platform 1I overlyingsubstantially the entire frame. The platform is of substantialconstruction adequate to hold the large number of cans and also to allowan operative to move about on the platform to tend the cans. Theprovision of overhead cans and associated feeding means, broadly, foruse with drafting frames of various types, is the invention of Nelson A.Batchelder and is disclosed and claimed by him in a copendingapplication.

In the form illustrated in Fig. 5 the platform is mounted on pillars 12extended upwardly from the iioor on which the spinning frame I stands,

. any desired number of such pillars being distributedalong the frame atits opposite sides. Additional cross ties 13 may be provided at theframe ends ,and elsewhere as necessary.

The slivers froml the various cans are conducted upwardly throughsultable guides 14 which may be supported on a frame structure risingfrom the platform 1I at the ends thereof and at suitable intermediatepoints. As illustrated said supporting structure includes, for

each side of the machine, and at the severalv points referred to, anupright post 15 carrying supporting arms 16, 11.

From the guides 14 the slivers pass around one or more guide and feedrolls, of which three are shown'in the present instance, numbered 18, 19and 80.- These rolls are journaled on the supporting frames previouslymentioned and are driven one from the other as by the correspondinggears 18', 'I8' and 80'. From the roll 80 the last of the series, theslivers are conducted downwardly, through suitable guide formations inthe platform 1I, to lower guide rolls 8|, 82 having bearings on a fixedpart of the spinning frame I. The slivers as shown passdownwardlyfaround the first of said lower guide rolls and upwardly overthe adjacent one, leading from the latter to the back rolls I2, I2 ofthe inner set. The top roll I2' Vof this back pair, as `in the previousinstance, is such as described in the Rooney patents mentioned, having adrafting formation comprising a multiplicity of outwardly projectingpoints.

Suitable means is provided for actuating the lower guide rolls 8l, 82and the corresponding upper guide rolls 18, 19 and 80 in timed relationwith the `drafting rolls to which the sliver is presented. For thispurpose I have hereingrepresented the one lower roll 82 as driven by ashort chain 83 on a sprocket un the shaft of the lower back roll I2 orotherwise driven positively and directly from the latter. 'I'he twolower guide rolls 82 and 8l are in tum drivingly connected as by a chain8.4 extending around gears or sprockets on the roll shafts. For drivingthe upper rolls 18, 19, 80 in similar timed relation a drivechain 85 isextended upwardly to actuate a change gear 86 rotatably supported on theplatform 1I or on one of the cross pieces 13. Said chain 85 at its lowerend passes around a gear or sprocket on the shaft of the lower back'rollI2 or is otherwise directly driven from the latter. The change gear 88drives a further gear 81 on a shaft with a sprocket 88,these parts alsobeing operativelysupported on the platform or cross members. Thesprocket 88 in turn drives a, chain 89 extending upwardly about asprocket on the shaft of the inner roll 80 of the upper set. The severalfeed and guide rolls, including both the lower and the upper sets, arein this manner positively coordinated and driven in timed relation tothe drafting rolls of the spinning frame; assuring a continuous steadyfeed of the sliver from the cans to the back rolls I2, I2" of the innerset of drafting rolls.

In Fig. 6 I have represented diagrammatically the path of two slivers Sfrom their cans and through the drafting rolls of the two sets forspinning a single yarn onto the corresponding spindle 2. It will benoted that for each spindle two slivers S, from a corresponding numberof cans, are fed to and drafted in the inner set of drafting rolls I8,I8', II, emerging singly from the front rolls Iii, I8' of this set. Fromtheflatter these drafted slivers are guided across to the front draftingroll set in such manner as to enter the back pair 8, 8' in operation inaccordance with the method and apparatus of Figs. 5 and 6 I may employ,for each spindle, two single 40-grain or .2 hank sliver supplied in cansfrom a drawing frame. Said single slivers are individually given a draftof 20 in the inner roll set, forming 4.0 hank. Two of the lattei` unitsare then doubled and drafted 10 through the operation of the outer setof drafting rolls, giving 20s yarn. It will bev understood that theparticular drafts here cited are examples only. Ingeneral, however, andas in the preceding figures, the, inner set of rolls serve to afford arelatively high draft and accurate paralleling of the fibers, at lowroll speeds, While the outer seil affords a comparatively lower draft.

It will be understood that my invention, either as to means or method,is not limited to the exemplary embodiments or steps herein illustratedor described, and I set forth its scope in my following claims.

I claim:

1. A combined roving and spinning frame for drafting and/spinningtextile fibers, comprising, in combination, a frame supporting a seriesof yarn spindles, an outer roll stand provided with upper and lowerdrafting rolls disposed in front, intermediate and back pairs, saidrolls feeding to the spindles, a second roll stand feeding to the firstand equipped with a plurality of pairs of drafting rolls, each pairincluding upper and lower rolls, and the upper roll of at least one pairbehind' the front pair having a.` drafting formation comprising amultiplicity of outwardly pron', and l2, l2', eachk jecting points,supporting means on the frame for a roving supply comprising at leastfour roving packages per spindle, guide means for directing four rovingsfrom the supplies, for each spindle, and introducing them in pairs tothe rolls of the rear stand for doubling and high drafting thereby,forwardly convergent guide means between the two stands for conductingthe two resulting drafted rovings to the rolls of the front stand forfurther doubling and drafting thereby into a single unit forpresentation to the corresponding spindle, means to drive the rolls ofthe outer stand to effect a selected relatively low draft, and driveconnections between the rolls of the outer stand and those of the innerstand to drive the latter to afford a relatively high draft but at lowspeeds of the rolls as compared with that customary for roving frames.

2. A combined drafting and spinning `apparatus, comprising, incombination, a frame a plurality of spindles thereon, anouter set ofdrafting rolls on the frame including front, intermediate and back pairsof upper and lower rolls, an inner set of drafting rollson said frameand also including front, intermediate and back pairs of upper and lowerrolls, the upper' roll of at least one pair of said inner set having adrafting formation composed of a multiplicity oi substantiallyradialwire-like points, guiding means to conduct the material being draftedfrom the inner roll set to the outer set, drive means on the frame todrive the shaft of the lower front roll of the outer set, gearing havingdriven connection with saidfront roll shaft and including change gearsfor driving the intermediate and the back rolls of said outer set, saidgearing operatively disposed at a given endofthe frame,

' gearing connections between a driven element of the outer set and thelower front roll shaftof the inner set, and interconnecting gearingincluding change gears drivingly associating the intermediate and backrolls of the inner set with the front roll shaft thereof and mounted onthe frame at a location spaced lengthwise the frame from the gearing forthe outer. roll set.

3. A combined drafting and spinning 'appa-A ratus, comprising, incombination, a frame, a plurality of spindles thereon, an outer set ofdrafting rolls on the frame including front, intermediate and back pairsof upper and lower rolls, l

an inner set of drafting rolls on said frame and also including front,intermediate and back pairs of upper and lower rolls, the upper roll ofat least one pair of said inner set having ,a drafting formationcomposed' of a multiplicity of substantially radial wire-like points,means to drive the outer roll set to afford a selected relatively lowdraft of not more `than about l0, and gearing connections between theouter set and the inner roll set to operate the latter at low rollspeeds but in such interrelation of the rolls thereof as to afford ahigh draft in the range of from about l5 up to about 40.

i. A combined drafting and spinning apparatus, comprising, incombination, a frame, a pluralitv of spindles thereon, an outer set oidrafting rolls on the frame including front, intermediate vand bachpairs of upper and lower rolls., an inner set of drafting rolls on. saidframe and also including front, intermediate and back pairs of upper andlower rolls, the upper roll of at least one pair of said inner sethaving a drafting formation composed of a multiplicity of substantiallyradial wire-like points, guiding means to conduct the material beingydrafted yfrom the inner roll set to operate the latter atV low roll`speeds but in such interrelation ofthe rolls thereof as to afford a highdraft of a minimum exceeding the draft at theouter roll set and up toabout 25to 40. y

5. A combined drafting and spinning appa-` ratus, comprising, incombination, a frame, a plurality of spindles thereon, an outer set ofdrafting rolls on the frame including front, intermediate and back pairsof upper and lower rolls, an inner set of drafting rolls on said frameand also including front, intermediate and back pairs of upper and lowerrolls, the upper roll of atleast one pair of said inner set having adrafting formation composed of a multiplicity of substantiallyvradialwire-like points, roll drive gearing for said sets of. rolls to afford ahigh draft at the inner set and a relatively low draft at the outer set,supporting means on the frame for a plurality of at least four materialsupplies for each spindle, and guide means for conducting the materialfor each spindle to cause doubling thereof at the inner roll set and afurther doubling into a single unit at the outer roll set, for passageto the respective spindle.

6. A combined drafting and spinning apparatus, comprising incombination, a frame, an initial or inner set of rolls thereon includingat least three pairs disposed as front, intermediate and back pairs, asecond or outer roll set of at with the lower front m11 shaft of theinner ser, and operatively interconnecting gearing for the other lowerroll shafts of said inner set, said gearing mounted at the other end ofthe frame and including connections between the lower .front roll shaftof said inner set and both the lower intermediate and the lower backroll shafts thereof and of a ratio to afford a relatively high order todraft at said initial or inner roll set, of a minimum substantiallyexceeding the draft at the outer roll set and up to about 25 -to 40, butat low speeds of the rolls as compared with those customary for highdrafting.

7. Apparatusfor drafting and spinning textile fibers according to claim3 wherein there is providedfor the material to be drafted a materialsupply platform mounted to overlie the frame, said platform dimensionedand arranged to accommodate material supply cans, one for each initialmaterial unit, the guide means for the material including feeding andguiding rolls, someof said rolls being rotatably mounted above theplatform and adjacent the supply cans and others rotatably supportedadjacent the initial rolls of the inner set to deliver the materialunits thereto, and positive non-slip gearing means for drivinglyconnecting and synchronizing said initial rolls and all of said feedingand guiding rolls.

8. That novel process of drafting and spinning frames in successiveseperate opel-stione,

said process further. comprising the steps, for each spindle, ofsupporting in condition to be drawn upon e plurality of individuelsupplies of lengths of seid nbrous textile materiel to be drafted,conducting the lengths from the supplies and rst drafting them with a,high draft sub stentielly exceeding s dreit of about l@ but et e,

relatively slow speed of the dregting instrum mentalities es comperedwith that customary for like drafts and materiels, 'and effecting seiddrafting in e. manner to como end htelrly parel lelize the bres of esclusupply length into this @at ribbon iorm wherein the individuel lires erestraightened end substentielly free of twisto sesame immediatelythereafterand as part of the same single continuous one-frame operationfurther drafting and 'simultaneously combining into a. unit at leest twoadjacent drafted ribbons for each spindle by e selected relatively lourdraft of not more then about 10 while operatively correlating theinstrumental speeds at the initial relatively high drafting stage and etsaid further relatively low drafting stage tov eord the desired totsldraft corresponding to the usual total of the two or more ordinarilyseperate dreting operations hereby replaced and et the seme timeavoiding st any stage the concurrence of both s high draft and s highinstrumental speed, thereby msterieliy to improve the quality of theresulting product yet substantially maintaining the production volumeper time unit, and nelly in the seme one-treme operation spinning theresulting dreted unit onto e spindle to form yern thereon. j

ELWHi H. ROONEY.

